# Monal vs Olvid

The clearest difference is rating: Olvid at 4.5 against Monal's 3.7. Olvid also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 57%). Monal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (133 vs 42). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Olvid sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Monal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Olvid holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 42 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Monal's written reviews are positive against 81% of Olvid's.

Monal ships an update monthly, Olvid every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monal | Olvid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500/reviews) | **[4.5 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olvid/id1414865219/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **133** | 42 |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews | **80.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 69 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thilo Molitor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508738269) | [Olvid](https://appshunter.io/developer/1470363343) |

## What reviewers say

### Monal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monal-xmpp-chat/id317711500)

This open-source messenger provides a fast and user-friendly way to connect to the XMPP public chat network. Enjoy private, ad-free communication with end-to-end encryption and features like group chats and file sharing.

**Highlights:** Open Source, No Ads, OMEMO encrypted chat, Multi user chat (MUC), Audio/Video calls, File sharing

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 🔒 Secure XMPP client
- 👍 Best XMPP client on iOS
- 🚀 Robust and dependable
- 👍 Actively developed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Encryption problems
- 👎 Buggy UI and UX
- 🔍 Missing basic features (copy/paste, etc.)
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Disconnects frequently
- Incompatible with some XMPP servers
- Crashes when sending messages
- Issues with loading contact lists

**Requested features**

- Add OTR/PGP encryption support
- Improve group chat functionality
- Allow customization of sounds and notifications
- Optimize for older iOS versions


### Olvid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/olvid/id1414865219)

This private messaging app prioritizes user control and security. It does not require personal data, push contacts, or allow unsolicited messages. Enjoy secure, end-to-end encrypted conversations with guaranteed privacy.

**Highlights:** No personal data required, User-controlled contacts, No unsolicited messages, End-to-end encryption, End-to-end authentication, Group creation, No spam or advertising

**Features:** Family Sharing, Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual | $4.49 | per month |
| Family | $5.99 | per month |
| Individual | $44.90 | per year |
| Family | $59.90 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monal free?

Monal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Olvid free?

Olvid is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monal or Olvid?

Olvid is rated higher. Monal averages 3.7 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Olvid averages 4.5 from 42 ratings.

### Do Monal or Olvid have ads?

Neither Monal nor Olvid shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monal or Olvid?

Monal ships an update monthly, and Olvid every 6 weeks. Most recently, Monal was updated on September 5, 2026 and Olvid on September 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*